WHAT IS GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)?

Everybody worries from time to time about specific things. However, GAD is an anxiety disorder in which people worry excessively and uncontrollably. People with GAD tend to:

1. worry excessively - They worry a lot, and other people might say that their worry is 'out of proportion' for the situation.

2. worry often - They worry about something most days of the week, for a period of at least 6 months

3. worry about lots of things - they might worry about getting things right, being perfect, being on time, not making mistakes, their health, their relationships, their work, finances...and so on.......

4. get physical symptoms because of their worry - worry is associated with physical problems such as chronic muscle tension, tummy upset, headaches, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, etc.

GAD  is very common, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, from the very young to the very old. GAD can develop at any age, although most sufferers say that they 'have always been a worrier'.

WHY DO I HAVE GAD?

Many people wonder how they came to develop GAD. No one factor is responsible, however one or many of the following factors may play a role:

A worrying thinking style: Many people form a belief during childhood that the world is a 'dangerous place' and that 'bad things happen'. Many factors can contribute to the development of this belief, such as overprotective parenting, a traumatic experience, early loss, etc. As time goes on, this belief leads to the development of a worrying thinking style, whereby we over-estimate the likelihood of danger occurring and exaggerate the likely negative consequences of events. 

Learning from others: Many people learn to worry by watching others worry or act in a scared way (e.g.,. parents, siblings, and friends). 

Believing that worry is helpful: Many people believe that the act of worrying helps them to 'be prepared' for bad things that might happen, or that worrying will prevent bad things from happening. Over time, this strengthens their reliance on worry to help them feel safe. 

Biological factors: Like most anxiety disorders, GAD is more common in people whose relatives have an anxiety or mood problem. 

WORRY ABOUT WORRY

One of the common features of GAD is that people often worry about their worry. For example, they fear that they will not be able to control their worry. They might also fear that their worry will damage their health, or that they will worry so much that they will 'go insane', lose control, or die. This seems at odds with the idea that many people feel that their worry is helpful, but it is not uncommon for sufferers to hold both sets of beliefs. For example, they might believe that worrying helps them to be prepared for situations, but that it is also giving them cancer.

There is no evidence that worry causes major health problems. It can manifest physically (e.g., tension headaches) and feel distressing but it does not lead to major problems in physical or mental health.

How IS GAD TREATED?

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